ADC

SMOKING ON SCHOOL PREMISES

We recognize that, as educational facilitators, we must be a positive model in the promotion of good health habits. Since research indicates that smoking is harmful, not only to the smoker but to the non-smoker, we must be promoting and modeling healthy behaviors for the young people we serve. Therefore, the committee feels very strongly that no smoking should take place in any building, playing field, locker room, gymnasium, bus, parking lot, or other areas designated as school property. This policy includes school and non-school events held on school property, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, by any person, student, employee, or guest of the School Department. This policy was drafted pursuant to the authority granted in Rhode Island General Laws § 23-20.9-1 et seq.

Studies have shown that, in addition to protecting the non-smoker, creating a totally smoke-free environment significantly reduces the prevalence of smoking among smokers and assists them in making decisions to get involved in smoking cessation program.

Student: It shall be a violation of this policy for any student of the Smithfield School District to possess, consume, display or sell any tobacco products, tobacco-related devices, or electronic cigarette vaporizers[1] at any time on school property or at off-campus, school-sponsored events. [2][3]

Staff, Administrators, and Visitors: It shall be a violation of this policy for any staff, administrator, or visitor of the Smithfield School District to use, consume, display or sell any tobacco products, tobacco-related devices, or electronic cigarette vaporizers at any time on school property or at off campus, school-sponsored events.

The term “electronic cigarette vaporizers” means any oral device that provides a vapor of liquid nicotine, lobelia, and/or other substance, and the use or inhalation of which simulates smoking. The term shall include any such devices, whether they are manufactured, distributed, marketed or sold as e-cigarettes, ecigars, e-pipes, or under any other product name or descriptor.

The term “tobacco-related devices” means ashtrays, cigarette papers or pipes for smoking or any components, parts, or accessories of electronic cigarettes, including cartridges. The term “school property” means all facilities and property, including land, whether owned, rented, or leased by the Smithfield School District, and all vehicles owned, leased, rented, contracted for, or controlled by the Smithfield School District for use in transporting students, staff, or visitors.

Enforcement

All policies will be published so that employees, students, parents, and community members will be informed. Copies will be published in local newspapers and sent to all non-school organizations that use the buildings and grounds.

Liberal posting of signs stating, “NO SMOKING”, and “YOU ARE ENTERING A SMOKE-FREE AREA” will be posted both inside and outside the buildings and school grounds.

Receptacles for the disposal of smoking materials will be provided at entrances to fields and buildings.

Notices will be sent to all parents. A short smoke-free statement may be provided on the backs of tickets sold at all events, in all department handbooks and on all use of facility school department authorization forms.

Both indoor and outdoor concession stands will post “NO SMOKING” signs, and receptacles will be present for disposal of smoking materials.

Those persons charged with supervision will remind anyone who does “light-up” that there is no smoking on the premises.

Information will be provided for smoking cessation programs. Setting good examples and allowing for a period of adjustment to the policies will help to ensure its success.

The governing body of a school that violates or allows the violation of this Public Law Chapter 92-230 shall be liable for a civil penalty, not less than fifty ($50.00) nor to exceed five hundred ($500.00), which penalty shall be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought by the attorney general in any court of competent jurisdiction. Each day a violation is committed or permitted to continue by a governing body shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such.

ANY PERSON WHO COMMITS A VIOLATION OF THE POLICY WILL BE

ASKED TO LEAVE THE PREMISES AND WILL BE HELD LIABLE FOR

ANY MONETARY FEE IMPOSED UPON THE GOVERNING BODY

[NOTE: THE FOLLOWING STUDENT PENALTIES MUST BE REVIEWED IN LIGHT OF NEW REGULATIONS. ONCE THE DISCIPLINE POLICY IS REVISED, THIS SECTION WILL BE REMOVED AND ALL INFORMATION REGARDING STUDENT PENALTIES WILL BE PART OF THE DISCIPLINE POLICY.]

STUDENT PENALTIES

Students who have tobacco products confiscated or who exhibit tobacco products in a way or in a place that suggests intent to violate the smoking policy will receive a verbal warning with a written verification to parents on the first offense. On the second such offense, a student will be subject to disciplinary action sequence established for students in violation of the policy.

HIGH SCHOOL

FIRST OFFENSE:

1. Parent notified in writing.

2. Student suspended for 1 day in house

3. Student will be enrolled in a smoking cessation program.

SECOND OFFENSE:

1. Parent called in for conference.

2. Student suspended for one day out of school.

3. Student will be enrolled in a smoking cessation program.

THIRD OFFENSE:

1. Parent will be called in for a conference.

2. Student will be suspended out of school for 3 days or suspended 2 days in-house.

3. Student will be enrolled in a smoking cessation program.

FOURTH OFFENSE:

1. Parent will be called in for a parent conference.

2. Student will be suspended for 5 days out of school.

3. Student will lose social privileges (social events such as dances, performances, etc.)for

one (1) month.

4. Student will be enrolled in a smoking cessation program.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

FIRST OFFENSE:

1. Parent is contacted in writing.

2. Student is assigned three hours of detention.

SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT OFFENSES:

1. Parent is called in for a conference.

2. Student is suspended for a number of days designated by the Principal or Assistant Principal.

VISITOR AND EVENTS BEYOND SCHOOL HOURS PENALTIES

Visitors who are observed smoking or using tobacco products in school buildings or on school grounds will be informed of the “SMOKING RESTRICTIONS IN SCHOOLS ACT” and will be asked to refrain from smoking or using tobacco products. If the individual fails to comply with the request, his or her violation of the policy shall be referred to the building Principal or the personnel responsible for the area in which the violation occurred. The building Principal or personnel responsible for the area will make a decision on further action which may include a directive to leave the building or grounds. Repeated violations may result in a recommendation to the Superintendent to prohibit the individual from entering the school building or grounds for a specified period of time.

***** THE GOVERNING BODY OF A SCHOOL THAT VIOLATES *****

OR ALLOWS THE VIOLATION OF THIS PUBLIC LAW

CHAPTER 92-230 SHALL BE LIABLE FOR A CIVIL PENALTY,

NOT LESS THAN FIFTY DOLLARS ($50.00), NOR TO EXCEED

FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00), WHICH PENALTY

SHALL BE ASSESSED AND RECOVERED IN A CIVIL ACTION

BROUGHT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN ANY COURT

OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION. EACH DAY A VIOLATION

IS COMMITTED OR PERMITTED TO CONTINUE BY A

GOVERNING BODY SHALL CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE OFFENSE

AND SHALL BE PUNISHABLE AS SUCH.

***** ANY PERSON WHO COMMITS A VIOLATION OF THE *****

POLICY WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE PREMISES AND

WILL BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY MONETARY FINE IMPOSED

UPON THE GOVERNING BODY.

ADOPTED: September 1998

REVISED: July 8, 2002, March 21, 2011, August 17, 2015

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